Unmasking Our Health: GLP-1s & ADHD

Episode 213 with Katy Weber &amp; Kalin JohnsonIn this first episode of our new series “Unmasking Our Health,” host Katy Weber teams up with cohost Kalin Johnson, PharmD, to explore a side of ADHD in women that isn’t talked about enough: What it’s like to live in a neurodivergent body. After years of interviewing late‑diagnosed women and seeing the same patterns — chronic pain, fatigue, autoimmune issues, hormonal chaos, gut problems, “mystery” symptoms — Katy created the Unmasking Our Health series to explore the bigger questions behind neurodivergence: What if ADHD isn’t just about our brains, but about our whole bodies — and how and why is the medical system missing the full picture?Our first topic for discussion: the explosion of GLP-1 medications (think Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) and what their surprising, wide-reaching effects are revealing about the deeply intertwined relationship between metabolic health, inflammation, hormones, and ADHD.In this episode, we cover:What is metabolic psychiatry? And why it&#39;s expanding how we understand ADHD beyond just dopamine and norepinephrineGLP-1 medications and ADHD — what patients are actually reporting (quieter brain, less emotional reactivity, reduced compulsive behaviors, improved executive functioning)The inflammation connection — how chronic neuroinflammation creates &#34;cognitive drag&#34; and why reducing it may give the ADHD brain more bandwidthThe vagus nerve and GLP-1 receptors — a fascinating look at how the gut communicates with the brain (and why 80% of vagal fibers run from the body to the brain, not the other way around!)Estrogen, perimenopause, and metabolic decline — why women over 50 are going on GLP-1s faster than any other populationDrug interactions (and physiologic interactions) — what to watch for if you&#39;re on stimulants, SSRIs, or HRT while starting a GLP-1Food noise, reward-seeking, and binge eating — what GLP-1s are actually doing in the brain&#39;s dopamine reward circuits, and what that means for neurodivergent women with disordered eating historiesWhere is all of this going? Kalin shares her genuinely optimistic vision for how GLP-1 research is opening the door to a more holistic, systemic understanding of neurodivergent women&#39;s healthNote: Nothing in this episode constitutes medical advice. Always consult with your physician and pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.Kalin’s website: kalinjohnson.comInstagram: @kalinpharmdLinks &amp; Resources:Listen to Kalin&#39;s first episode: Episode 97 (August 2022)Have a topic you want Katy and Kalin to cover? Contact us- - - - - Episode edited by E Podcast Productions- - - - -Women &amp; ADHD coaching: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching- - - - -Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/katy- - - - -Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse- - - - -Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!- - - - -If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcastTiktok: @womenandadhdpodcastTwitter: @womenandadhdFacebook: @womenandadhdAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: <a href='https://r